Spending at least one day in Ravello is a must when visiting the Amalfi Coast! Hidden high up in the mountains, it is one of the most romantic places this rugged coastline has to offer and not as crowded as its neighbour, Amalfi. If you are a sucker for pristine palaces, idyllic lush gardens and cute medieval alleyways, then a day trip to Ravello should not be missing from your Amalfi Coast itinerary!
One day in Ravello; the best things to see and do
TABLE OF CONTENT
- One day in Ravello; the best things to see and do
- Also watch my video about the best things to see and do on a day trip to Ravello
Why you should visit Ravello
Ravello is unique, since it is situated in the Lattari Mountains, unlike Amalfi and Positano, which are coastal villages. Because it is so high up, Ravello offers some of the most stunning views of the whole Amalfi Coast! Despite all its beauty and its UNESCO World Heritage status since 1997, it is less famous and thus less crowded. Which makes it the perfect place for a day trip. Wandering around this cute little medieval town, made me feel as if I was teleported to another time. I could not stop taking photos of every single thing I spotted, since there was something new and fantastic to discover behind every little corner! Ravello truly is an enchanting town!
Where is Ravello and how can you get there?
Ravello is situated 365 meters above the Tyrrhenian Sea, in the province of Salerno at the Amalfi Coast in the south of Italy between Atrani and Minori. It is a 38 kilometer drive from Sorrento and 55 kilometer drive from Napoli. These distances may not seem far, but it will take about 1 to 2 hours of driving, since the route consists of narrow mountain roads.
If you are planning your one day in Ravello from Sorrento, Positano or Amalfi you can take the SITA bus or rent a transfer. Ravello cannot be directly reached by ferry, since it is located in the mountains. You could book a ferry with Alilauro or Traghettilines to Amalfi and then take the bus or transfer to Ravello. Another option is to rent a scooter and drive yourself up the winding mountain roads.
When should you go to Ravello?
The best time to go on a day trip to Ravello is spring and autumn (May/June and September/October preferably). Temperatures are bearable and the summer crowds haven’t arrived yet. From April to June you will be able to enjoy the flowers the most.
Ravello is called the city of music. If you decide to visit during the summer months July and August, you will be able to witness the Ravello Music Festival, which is organized in the gardens of Villa Rufolo. A lot of hotels and restaurants close during the wintertime, so during that time there will not be much to do.
How to make the most of your one day in Ravello?
When you plan to only spend one day in Ravello, I recommend to arrive early in the morning. Its most famous sights open at 9.00 am. Plan ahead, so you can decide which place you definitely want to see first, without any crowds and then plan your next stop. After visiting the palaces and gardens Ravello is famous for, you can visit the town at your own pace and do some shopping.
Make sure to wear comfortable shoes. Like other towns at the Amalfi Coast, Ravello’s streets consist of a lot of stairs and cobblestones. It is also advisable to take a sweater, in case you plan to stay to witness the sunset. It can get chilly in the evening since you are up in the mountains. Make sure to check the weather report for thunder storms and showers. They are stronger in this area!
What to see and do on a day trip to Ravello
You can do a lot in one day in Ravello, depending on your planning and what you want to see. This is your perfect itinerary to see and do the best things on your day trip to Ravello;
Villa Cimbrone
The villa’s history
Cimbronium is the rocky outcropping on which Villa Cimbrone is situated and named after. The villa was once owned by a noble family and dates back to the 11th century. Later, the villa was incorporated into the neighbouring Santa Chiara monastery. From the 17th century the villa’s history is rather vague. The villa was passed down to the Amici family of Atrani in the mid-nineteenth century. During his travels, Ernest Beckett fell in love with the villa and purchased it from the Amici family in 1904. The villa and its gardens were renovated and expanded by him. The estate was bought by the Vuilleumier family in the 1960s. Originally a private family residence, it is now a hotel.
Visit The gardens
Villa Cimbrone is one of Ravello’s most opulent and elegant hilltop hotels. Only the fortunate few can afford to stay here. The good news is that its awe-inspiring extensive gardens can be visited at the price of only 7€! It is my absolute favorite place of the whole Amalfi Coast! So I advise to go to this magnificent place first when you spend one day in Ravello! I visited the gardens twice during my stay at the Amalfi Coast. Twice I was the first in line when arriving at 8.45 am. It seemed as if I had the gardens to myself the first hour.
Once you enter this marvelous estate, follow the long avenue overgrown with wisteria to the temple with the statue of Ceres. It is the fastest way to arrive at the Terrazza dell’Infinito! At a height of 365 meters, this vast terrace is lined by a set of shining white marble busts, that contrast with the azure blue sky, and offers the most dazzling views spanning down the mesmerizing Amalfi Coast!
You can tour the rest of the garden after savoring the views from the Terrazza dell’Infinito. I recommend taking the path on the west side to Mercury’s throne and continuing on from there to avoid missing the Temple of Bacchus and Eve’s Grotta. The path will guide you automatically to a replica of Donatello’s David statue, the Terrazza delle Rose and the Moorish-styled Tea Room. Before you leave, pay a visit to the cloister and crypt, which are situated right across the ticket office.
Opening hours: 9.00 – sunset / entrance fee: 7€
Via Santa Chiara
When you return to Ravello’s town center via the Via Santa Chiara, you will pass the Monastero di Santa Chiara. This monastery is only open to the public on Sundays, so I was not able to visit. But if you are spending your one day in Ravello on a Sunday, make sure to get in and take a look! About 30 meters further you will pass the gate of Villa Eva. This villa is a popular wedding venue and usually the gate is closed, but when I passed it was open. So I took a quick look in the garden, which was absolutely stunning!
Villa Rufolo
The villa’s history
When you arrive in Ravello’s main square, you cannot miss the medieval tower with its ancient gate, covered in leaves. It immediately grabs your attention and pulls you in. It is the entrance to Villa Rufolo, which dates back to the 13th century. In medieval Ravello, the Rufolo family was a powerful family. They combined Arab and Byzantine architecture in the construction of their mansion. To reflect their social rank, the villa needed to be noble, lavish and grant.
The Rufolo family had fallen out of favor because they sided with the forces battling the English during the period of the Sicilian Vespers. As a result, they had no choice but to divide the property. The villa was passed down through various Italian families through the laws of succession. But it was completely destroyed by 1850. The villa was not renovated until Sir Francis Nevile Reid purchased the property. He reconfigured the terraces into gardens. The villa was re-divided after his death, with artifacts and furniture being auctioned. The remaining private parts were purchased by the Board of Tourism in 1974. They owned the villa until 2007, when it was transferred to the Fondazione Ravello. They renovated and secured it.
Visit the villa and its gardens
The villa and its spectacular garden, also known as the “Garden of the Soul,” are open to the public. The garden is divided into two levels with tropical plants and lovely terraces that offer stunning views of the Tyrrhenian Sea, Minora and Maiori and of course one of Ravello’s most famous features; the Annunziata Historic Building‘s domes. Every year the Fondazione Ravello organises the Ravello Music Festival here.
Opening hours: 9.00 – 19.00 / entrance fee: 7€
Piazza Duomo
Piazza Duomo is the beating heart of Ravello. Locals gather together on the benches and terraces while their children play football or bike around the square. You will find restaurants, bars, shops and fantastic views here, including the duomo of Ravello. I loved enjoying my gelato here, while observing all the people.
Via Richard Wagner
Take the street at the left side of the duomo up to the Via San Giovanni del Toro. This street is decorated by beautiful flowers. On the right you will find a beautiful garden hidden behind the duomo.
Palaces & the Giardini Principessa di Piemonte
At the Via San Giovanni del Toro you will encounter a lot of beautiful pristine palaces (most of them are now hotels), gardens and the city hall. I loved walking through this street and my favorite part was the Giardini Principessa di Piemonte. This small garden decorated with magnificently manicured flower beds is free to visit and offers fantastic views of the Costiera Amalfitana. It is often used for wedding ceremonies. (Ravello is very popular for weddings!)
Wander and get lost
Just wander around Ravello and explore as many streets as you can on this day trip. You will encounter narrow alleys, small gardens and parks offering views on the coast and Ravello’s monuments.
Shopping
Ravello is tiny so do not expect to find big stores. There are two cute shopping streets where you will mainly find souvenirs and ceramics; Via Roma and Via dei Rufolo. Ravello also houses a few cute clothing stores. Ravello would not be complete without the typical souvenir shops offering limoncello and other lemon things! But you will also find more sophisticated boutiques with big Italian brands. My favorite shops in Ravello are:
- Ceramiche Cosmolena, where I bought my ceramics. They have 5 stores in Ravello. It is a family-owned business that produces its own designed handmade pottery items. The best thing is they have an enormous selection of diverse ceramics and they ship worldwide!
- I found some beautiful hair accessories at Blu Mediterraneo, where you can also buy these typical “Positano” dresses and swim wear.
Where to eat in Ravello?
I loved having lunch and aperitivo at the main square. For dinner I found a lovely restaurant with a garden decorated with fairy lights named Giardini Calce. They are specialised in pizza, but they also offer other Italian cuisine.
Book a hotel for your day trip to Ravello
If you genuinely want to experience Ravello, I recommend staying at one of the beautiful palace hotels! You could stay the night before in Ravello, so you can start the day early. In case you prefer to enjoy the sunset, you could book the night after. Or maybe you just want to book both to fully enjoy your day trip in Ravello!
I had a great time at Hotel Villa Fraulo. This hotel was formerly a medieval villa built by an aristocratic family in the 13th century. It’s situated in the heart of Ravello, only a few steps away from the main square. All meals are served on the large terrace with a fountain, which offers a spectacular view of Minori and Maiori. You can cool down in the infinity pool, if you need to. You had the option to choose from a breakfast menu. The hotel had an elevator and an entrance at the east (low) and the west (high) side. So depending on whatever section of town you want to visit, you can take the elevator rather than taking the steps.
Price for a standard double room in September: 206€/night, breakfast included. Book your stay at Hotel Villa Fraulo here!
Also watch my video about the best things to see and do on a day trip to Ravello
Pin this post to plan your one day in Ravello for later
So that is it! I hope you enjoyed this “One day in Ravello guide” and that it will help to plan your own day trip to Ravello! I really tried to cover everything you need to know. Do not hesitate to leave your comments or questions down below! That way I can add more information if necessary!
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Hi Joëlle
I love your factual and entertaining vlogs.
I would love your suggestion as to where to stay in the amalfi coast or Sorrento. We are planning for September 2023. We will be spending time in Florence and on a cruise visiting Pompaii and Naples. We have been to Rome and Venice before so don’t need to go back there. We want to spend 5 nights in the amalfi coast but in one place. We are mid 60’s reasonably fit but prefer no steep hills. Happy to day trip to places like Ravello. Prefer not to drive. Budget – maybe 3-5– euro per night?? That doesnt get you much in Amalfi from what I can see, Anyway, your suggestion and maybe brief itinerary would be appreciated. maybe you could do a 5 night in Amalfi vlog?
regards
Larry
Hi Larry,
You can check my complete itinerary (including all the hotels I stayed at) for the Gulf of Naples and the Amalfi Coast here: https://www.worldwanderista.com/amalfi-coast-itinerary-need-to-know/. With all that information you should be able to plan your own itinerary, since it includes all the places to see and what to do.
Also in this post and the Procida one the hotels I stayed at and all that info is mentioned.
I don’t know if you will find hotels at 35€ per night. It is one of the most expensive regions of Italy. And all towns are hilly at the Amalfi Coast and steep with a lot of steps (as you can read in my blog posts). So take that into account!
Happy travels!
Thanks Joelle, your info is fantastic. I meant to say 350 euro. 35 euro might get me a tent lol. Keep up the good work. You make travel planning easy and enjoyable.
Hahahaha! Yes, I actually wanted to mention something like “I never found a decent hotel at 35€/night in my entire life” but I did not want to sound too rude 😀 I mean, some people might not be able to afford more, but I don’t think they would choose the Amalfi Coast to vacation 🙂
Even with a tent you would probably end up paying more over there hahahaha!
Your article about one day in Ravello is exactly what I was looking for. It covers everything from visiting places, to where to stay and eat and your gorgeous pictures are also a bonus! I am planning to surprise my husband with an anniversary trip to Ravello. How many days would you recommend us to stay there? 2 full days would be enough? Or stay longer? Thank you very much for your reply. Safe travels, Martina x x.
Hi Martina!
Thanks! You don’t know how much that means to me reading that!
The number of days depends of what you want to do and how long it takes for you to visit these places.
Just make a list of the places you want to visit and make a planning (taking into account best times to visit etc) and depending on that make an estimation of the number of nights you will need for your stay!
It is different for everyone.
Happy travels!
Joëlle